The Laws of Temptation Week 4

The Lust of the Eye

1 John 2:15–17 NLT

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Isn't it amazing how see the things the world has to offer with all it’s glitter and glitz and we just buy in without even questioning it. It’s like seeing in color but being told that there is better in black and white.

The eye is a funny part of our anatomy in that it allows us to see the good the bad and the ugly. But if I disguise the bad and the ugly for good then I assume it is good. So I allow my emotions to dictate to myself that it is good. Why, because of our humanly, sinful nature and the desire to feed the flesh, despite the consequences!

Genesis 3:1–7 NLT

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

1. Don’t question God’s Instructions, like you’ve got it all figured out. You don’t!

Job 31:1–4 NLT

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. 2 For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high? 3 Isn’t it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil? 4 Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?

2. Be accountable and committed to yourself and someone whom you trust.

Matthew 5:27–30 NLT

27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

3. Cut-off the things that will draw you from God & away from righteous living.

Listen my friends, the laws of temptation are real and we all are faced with them everyday! We don’t have to give in to them we can make choices to overcome our sinful nature with the guiding and directing of the Holy Spirit if we just ask the Lord and are willing to be obedient to Him.

Don’t get tricked into thinking that the ways of this world are better then the ways and things of God after all God’s ways are so much more fulfilling like color is to black and white.